Falkirk vs Partick Thistle preview - Pressley to stick with youth

Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011 by PA

Boss Steven Pressley is set to continue with his policy of blooding youngsters as Falkirk take on Partick for the third time in 10 days.

Blair Alston and Stewart Murdoch have been included recently and Pressley will again seek talent from the youth ranks.

Defender Marc Twaddle remains suspended, while winger Jack Compton is again sidelined.

Despite the Bairns` hopes of winning the Division One title being slim, Pressley has urged his players to end the season on a high.

Pressley said: "We still have a very slim chance on winning the league so we have to go out and take it. We know Thistle well and they know us well but if we play like we did at Firhill last week I am sure we will do okay.

"There is a unity at Falkirk just now and the future is bright for this club with the young players we have."

Partick caretaker manager Jackie McNamara has ruled himself out of the contest.

McNamara, who continues to play for Thistle despite taking the managerial reins from Ian McCall, could be joined on the sidelines by a further nine players for his second game at the helm.

Martin Grehan is struggling with a thigh knock and Chris Erskine is doubtful with a hamstring problem, meaning they could join Paul Paton, Ryan MacBeth, Iain Flannigan, John Robertson, Bryan Hodge, Colin Stevenson and Simon Donnelly on the absentees list.

McNamara said: "One good thing is that this game is at Falkirk's place and their surface is a lot better than ours.

"I thought we were down to the bare bones on Saturday and we are beyond that now. We will welcome the change to a much better playing surface at Falkirk compared to our own one."